Star of Romney 'My Hands Didn't Build This' Ad Received Millions in Government Loans and Contracts  —  The Romney campaign has been making much out of an out-of-context President Obama quote.  —  Speaking in Roanoke, Virginia on July 13 about the necessity of government for services such as infrastructure …

Albright recalls Romney thanks for ‘keeping my mouth shut’ on Olympics uniforms  —  Madeleine Albright's circa 2008 book, “Memo to the President Elect,” offers this nugget about her own experience seeing the 2002 Olympics uniforms were made in Burma, which she says she brought to Mitt Romney's attention at the time.

First Female U.S. Astronaut, Sally Ride, Comes Out In Obituary  —  “I hope it makes it easier for kids growing up gay that they know that another one of their heroes was like them,” Sally Ride's sister, Bear Ride, said.  —  Astronaut Sally Ride, mission specialist on STS-7 …

Mitt's First Foreign Stumble?  —  It's treacherous for a US presidential candidate to travel overseas — lots of opportunities for mis-chosen words and getting drawn into other countries' domestic politics.  With Mitt Romney about to leave on his big trip abroad he may already have had his first big foreign stumble.

Poll: Romney preferred over Obama to handle the economy  —  WASHINGTON - Despite concerted Democratic attacks on his business record, Republican challenger Mitt Romney scores a significant advantage over President Obama when it comes to managing the economy, reducing the federal budget deficit …

“The Context Is Worse Than the Quote”  —  Many conservatives didn't think Mitt Romney was a good spokesman for our movement, but the fact is that right now, he, more than anyone else, is lifting high the banner of free enterprise and American tradition.  Democrats have tried to defend …

OK, Let's Debate Gun Control!  —  A second Obama term could kill the Second Amendment.  —  Last week's horrific crime in Aurora, Colo., has, predictably enough, prompted many leftist politicians and commentators to call for more antigun laws.  Actually, that's not quite right.

“Jettison Some of the Crap”  —  Rand Paul's quiet war against more defense spending.  —  Shortly after noon last Tuesday, Dick Cheney slipped out of an elevator and into the Lyndon Baines Johnson room where Republican senators hold a weekly lunch.  His mission: convince them that $700 billion …

Colorado theater shooting suspect James Holmes appears dazed in court  —  CENTENNIAL, Colo.—James Holmes, the suspect in the Colorado theater massacre, appeared in a Colorado courtroom on Monday, three days after one of the deadliest shooting sprees in modern American history.

Report Details $21-$32 Trillion in Untaxed Global Wealth Parked Offshore  —  New study estimates $20-30 trillions in tax shelters (photo: bright strangely)  —  The Tax Justice Network, an organization I frankly had never heard of until this weekend, came out with a study over the weekend alleging …

Contempt motion withdrawn for sexual-assault victim Savannah Dietrich who tweeted attackers' names  —  Defense attorneys for two boys who pleaded guilty to assaulting a 17-year-old Savannah Dietrich have withdrawn their motion that she be held in contempt for tweeting the names of her attackers in defiance of a court order.

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Lobbyists, GOP get cracking on ‘embryonic’ energy platform  —  State of Play: GOP lawmakers, aides and an array of energy industry lobbyists huddled at Republican National Committee (RNC) headquarters Monday to lay the groundwork for the party's official energy platform at August's national convention.

Feds investigating Pennsylvania voter ID law  —  The Justice Department is investigating Pennsylvania's new voter identification law, a letter sent to the state government Monday indicates.  —  The letter from Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez seeks a variety of records related …

Iowa 2016 presidential preference poll  —  Hillary Clinton continues to have a dominant lead in Iowa Democrats' preferences for their 2016 presidential nominee almost three years before actual candidates will begin chowing down on cobs of corn.  The straw poll on the Republican side is much closer …

Energy-efficient CFL bulbs cause skin damage, say researchers  —  New research funded by the National Science Foundation has scientists warning consumers about the potentially harmful effects energy-saving CFL light bulbs can have on skin.  —  The warning comes based on a study conducted …

Federal Government's Debt Jumps More Than $1T for 5th Straight Fiscal Year  —  (CNSNews.com) - By the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the new debt accumulated in this fiscal year by the federal government had already exceeded $1 trillion, making this fiscal year the fifth straight …

‘Diva’ candidate explains pink site  —  Mindy Meyer's bright pink website for her New York state Senate campaign may have inspired some snark Monday on Twitter, but she says her candidacy is no laughing matter.  —  “One person's response was, ‘Is this a joke?’  I'm like, absolutely not.